सुत्त
Sutta
Discourse / Thread of teaching
經
Grammar 語法
neuter noun (a-stem): from sīvati (to sew) or suṇāti (to hear) — 'thread' or 'that which is heard'
Definition 釋義
A discourse of the Buddha (or occasionally a senior disciple). Each sutta follows a recognisable structure: opening formula (Evaṃ me sutaṃ — 'Thus have I heard'), setting (time, place, and audience), the teaching itself, and a closing declaration of approval. Suttas range from a few lines to many pages. The Sutta Piṭaka contains thousands of suttas. In Mahayana Buddhism the equivalent texts (in Sanskrit) are called Sūtras.
Canonical Example 典籍例句
Evaṃ me sutaṃ. Ekaṃ samayaṃ Bhagavā Bārāṇasiyaṃ viharati Isipatane Migadāye.
Thus have I heard. On one occasion the Blessed One was dwelling at Bārāṇasī in the Deer Park at Isipatana.
Source: Opening formula of Dhammacakkappavattana Sutta
At a Glance
- Pali
- Sutta
- IAST
- Sūtra
- Devanagari
- सुत्त
- Chinese
- 經
- Difficulty
- beginner
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